Development of Vertebral Column

Question 1

Describe the organisation of the vertebral column

Answer 1

4 natural curves 
Cervical curvature (secondary curve)
Thoracic curvature (primary curve)
Lumbar curvature (secondary curve)
Sacral curvature (primary curve)
Divided into 5 sections
Cervical (5 bones)
Thoracic (12 bones)
Lumbar (5 bones)
Sacrum (solid mass of bone which consists of 5 bones)
Coccyx

Question 2

When does the vertebral column begin developing

Answer 2

fourth week

Question 3

where is the vertebral column derived from

Answer 3

is derived from the sclerotome of the somites.

Question 4

Specialisation of the intraembryonic mesoderm

Answer 4

The notochord is an inducer of structures and induces the intraembroyonic mesoderm to form the intermediate mesoderm, lateral plate mesoderm and the paraxial mesoderm.

Question 5

segmentation of the paraxial mesoderm

Answer 5

Paraxial mesoderm will begin to segment to form these somites. These somites will differentiate to form three parts. At first they will only form two parts: demomyotome and sclerotome. The dermomyotome becomes the myotome and the dermatome.

Question 6

Embryonic development of the vertebral column

Answer 6

The vertebral column develops during the 4th week of intrauterine life from the sclerotome of somites. Specialisation of the mesoderm leads to the formation of the sclerotome